No. 12 UCLA stays unbeaten at 6-0, tops Wisconsin 17-7 with a backup QB

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach was 22 of 33 for 264 yards in his first start as a Bruin, Wayne Knight and Anthony Woods each ran for touchdowns, and No. 12 UCLA beat Wisconsin 17-7 on Saturday night to improve to 6-0 for the first time since 2022.

Bob Chesney is the first UCLA coach to begin his tenure with that many wins. The Bruins (4-0 Big Ten) were without starting QB Nico Iamaleava, who injured his leg last week at Oregon.

Wisconsin (4-2, 2-1) closed to 10-7 on quarterback Colton Joseph’s 3-yard TD run in the third quarter, when the Badgers dominated after being held scoreless in the first half.

Joseph finished 6 of 16 for 66 yards passing. He was the Badgers’ leading rusher with 18 carries for 71 yards.

Wisconsin had 10 penalties — including four on their second drive of the game — for 102 yards.

The Badgers took two big hits in the fourth. Safety Matt Jung was ejected for targeting on UCLA’s drive when the Bruins extended the lead to 17-7 on Woods’ 3-yard TD run that survived a review after he appeared to bobble the ball.